On Friday, when State Rep. Angelo D’Emilia announced he is throwing his hat in the ring for a third term, he had no declared opponents.

But by Monday, Raynham Selectmen Chairman Joseph Pacheco had announced he is “looking seriously” at jumping into the race on the Democratic side, as well.

“I’ll do what I’ve always done, continue to work hard for the people who’ve been kind enough to give me the opportunity to serve them. I always expect to have an opponent,” said D’Emilia, a Bridgewater Republican who has represented the 8th Plymouth District for the past four years.

Pacheco, who has served as selectman for the past seven years, said he is conducting a poll and reaching out to residents in both towns to “gauge their support.” He will likely announce his decision whether to run within the next two weeks, he said.

The 8th Plymouth is comprised of Bridgewater and Raynham.

“I’m looking at this race because I feel there’s an opportunity to take the seat in another direction. There are important issues and I think there needs to be a conversation,” Pacheco said.

D’Emilia is the founder and owner of Spartago Enterprises, a general contractor based in Bridgewater. He also owns Downtown Mini Storage in Bridgewater.

Pacheco, executive director of the nonprofit Pro-Home Inc., previously served as director of community and constituent affairs for D’Emilia’s predecessor, etate Rep. David Flynn, a Bridgewater Democrat who held the title “dean of the House” by virtue of being the earliest serving member at the time of his retirement in 2010.

D’Emilia, a Republican who had never held elective office prior to becoming state representative, has proved a formidable candidate in a pair of towns that have nearly twice as many registered Democrats as Republicans and nearly twice as many unenrolled voters as voters of both major parties combined.

D’Emilia has not enjoyed landslides but he has won decisive victories, carrying both towns both times he’s run, as well Precinct 6 in Easton in 2010, when it was still part of the 8th Plymouth prior to re-districting.

In 2010, D’Emilia beat out Bridgewater Democrat Patricia Lawton 53 percent to 47 percent; and in 2012, he beat out Bridgewater Democrat Marilee Kenney Hunt 52 percent to 48 percent. In that race, D’Emilia won Bridgewater by just 137 votes, but cruised in Raynham, winning by a big margin of 689.

Pacheco said he views all opponents as “beatable” and all opponents as “formidabl,e” and has never taken an election for granted even when he’s running unopposed.

D’Emilia said he is not a career politician and has tried to bring a fresh perspective to the legislature, the view of a local businessman — a perspective that is sorely needed, he said.

“I’m a citizen legislator. I’ve been a job provider and that’s something lacking on Beacon Hill. There are a lot of wannabe politicians who seek these seats. It’s important to have someone with my perspective as well. It’s one thing to run. It’s another thing to serve,” D’Emilia said.

But Pacheco said he considers himself a “public servant” in the tradition of his great grandfather, one of Raynham’s first full-time police officers and his father, a longtime Raynham police officer.

As to job creation, Pacheco said he has fought passionately as a selectman in support of opening a slot parlor at the former Raynham dog track because it would create hundreds of jobs for local residents.

“I genuinely do what in my gut I think is the best thing to do,” Pacheco said.